VMD/PSS Dispensing Premises Inspection

RE: VMD/PSS Dispensing Premises Inspection

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:23:27 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]A previous example of madness, now largely superseded by technology was the fridge and ambient temperature log.[/quote]The ambient temperature log was mentioned at our last visit. I'm not quite sure what we're supposed to do if we don't have AC to control it anyway, I'm not going to chuck the contents of the pharmacy after one hot day. There's a thermometer in the op theatre and thermostat on the heating - I'm not going to record that I'm afraid. Another nod and smile nicely moment.

RE: VMD/PSS Dispensing Premises Inspection

J G Wray — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 10:02:02 GMT

A previous example of madness, now largely superseded by technology was the fridge and ambient temperature log.

To start with there was a requirement to record temperature even if they were normal. It was suggested that perhaps it would be better to record when there was a deviation from normal or an alarm and record the consequence and actions as a more valuable exercise.

Then there's the hoary old subject of the 28 day rule and broaching date

We have the discussion each time there's a visit, because we ask for the use by date to be recorded by the first person to broach a product rather than expecting all subsequent users to do the maths. After all it's best practice in the food industry...

Then, and this is not about PSS or anything else there's the perennial air gap/non return valve thingy for washing machines and now everywhere in practice.

We have a separate cold water tank and supply to the washing machine, a legacy of the separate supply to an automatic Xray processor discussion and now have non return valves at all other water supply points following a Water Industry Inspector visit.

I've always struggled with why the air gap from the sink to the tap is an inferior air gap to the cold water tank air gap at the valve but the marginal cost of compliance means you just shake your head and get on with it.

RE: VMD/PSS Dispensing Premises Inspection

Bob Russell — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 09:49:10 GMT

Why is it best practice?

As long as it is disposed of correctly it is of little importance for medicine safety except with controlled drugs.

That said ,we generally book the amount in the syringe and note on the records the actual amount administrated.

I have to say I don't give a monkeys about the 0.03ml in the dead space. This legislation is there to ensure these drugs are not abused/misused. Still somewhat nonsensical as anyone abusing the remnants of a bottle could easily replace the volume with something else!

We use all these drugs on trust with a certain level of overall monitoring.

RE: VMD/PSS Dispensing Premises Inspection

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 09:24:05 GMT

This was not mentioned at our inspection earlier this year or if it was I missed it but I think this is another example of 'best practice' rather than a legal requirement. We already record how much anaesthetic is given out of the amount drawn on the anaesthetic record charts so it makes no difference. And of course we record amount discarded/wasted for schedule II & III drugs in the CDR along with a standard 0.03ml left in the dead space of a luer tip syringe.

How anyone would know anyway if you didn't always give the full dose is hard to quantify so I think just nodding and smiling nicely is probably the best approach.